To review the progress in the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture. Methods Recent l iterature on the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture was reviewed. Results The choice of operative method for the repair of chronic Achilles tendon rupture depended primarily on the length of tendon defect, the atrophic condition of triceps surae muscle, and the age and the sportive level of patient. Conclusion Most chronic Achilles tendon ruptures should be treated operatively to reach good functional recovery, and tissue engineering provides a promising future for tendon defect repair.
Objective To investigate the perioperative management and the results of surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis associated with diabetes mellitus. Methods The cl inical data were analysed retrospectively from 42 patients with spinal tuberculosis associated with type 2 diabetes mell itus who were surgically treated between July 2001 and January 2009.There were 22 males and 20 females with an average age of 56.5 years (range, 41-78 years). The disease duration was 4-18 months (mean, 7.5 months). The involved vertebrae included 2 cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, 17 thoracolumbar vertebrae, and 10 lumbar vertebrae. Of them, 18 patients compl icated by paraplegia, and 25 patients had more than one of concomitant diseases. Anterior debridement and bony grafting with anterior instrumentation fixation were performed in 16 patients; anterior debridement and bony grafting with posterior instrumentation fixation in 4 patients; posterolateral costotransversectomy debridement and interbody fusion with posterior instrumentation fixation in 8 patients; posterior debridement and bony grafting with posterior fixation in 7 patients; sinus resectomy and focus debridement in 2 patients; anterior debridement and bony grafting in 3 patients; and CT guided percutaneous catheter drainage in 2 patients. Postoperative anti-tuberculosis treatment was given for 12-24 months. Results The patients were followed up 1.5-5.0 years, with a mean period of 3.5 years. One patient died of pulmonary infection after 1 week of operation; 1 patient died of myocardial infarction after 2 years of operation; and other patients survived without tuberculosis recurrence. Among 38 patients who received bony grafting, 34 patients achieved bony fusion, 3 suffered bony grafting failure without kyphotic deformity or instabil ity except 1 patient who died from pulmonary infection. Among 18 cases compl icated by paraplegia, nerve function improved to a certain extent. The intraoperative and postoperativecompl ications occured in 28 cases. The systemic compl ications mainly included heart insufficiency in 5, heart rrhythmia in 3, pulmonary infection in 2, urinary tract infection in 2, and stree ulcer in 1; they were cured after medical treatment. The local complications mainly included sinus tract formation in 5, pleural tear in 2, neurologic injury in 2, intraoperative tear of inferior vena cava in 2, and the loosening of transpedicular screws in 4; they all were cured effectively. Conclusion Surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis associated with diabetes mell itus appears to be a beneficial procedure on the condition that the blood glucose is controlled and the associated disorders and postoperative complications are properly handled, and reasonably selection of surgical procedures is very important. Instrumentation fixation provides adequate stabil ity to allow early mobilization.
Objective To study the cl inical appl ication of anchoring cervical intervertebral fusion cage (ACIFC) in anterior cervical discectomy with fusion. Methods From November 2006 to June 2007, 21 cases of degenerative cervical disease were treated with anterior cervical discectomy, bone graft by ACIFC and anchoring stators, and 28 ACIFCs were implanted. There were 12 males and 9 females aged 25-68 years old (average 47.9 years old). The course of disease rangedfrom 3 days to15 years (median 2.3 years). There were 7 patients with single-segment cervical spondylosis, 3 with two-segment cervical spondylosis, 2 with single-segment lower cervical spine instabil ity, 4 with single-segment cervical spondylosis and lower cervical spine instabil ity, and 5 with cervical disc herniation. Postoperatively, X-ray films were taken regularly to detect the fusion of bone graft and the intervertebral height of fused segment was measured. The symptoms, signs and cervical functions of patient before operation, shortly after operation and during the follow-up period were evaluated by “40 score” system. And the occurrence of postoperative axial symptom (AS) was assessed with the standard set by Zeng Yan et al. Results All incisions healed by first intention. AS occurred in 1 case 48 hours after operation and was improved from poor to good after symptomatic treatment. No other kind of compl ication was identified or reported during intra-operative and postoperative period. All the cases were followed up for 16-24 months (average 20.5 months), and fusion was reached in all the intervertebral discs. Evaluated by “40 score” system, the average score for the cervical spinal cord function before operation, shortly after operation and during the final follow-up period was 26.2, 30.6, and 35.5 points, respectively, indicating there were significant differences between different time points (P lt; 0.05). During the follow-up period of above 1 year, the average improvement rate was 67.4%. The average intervertebral height before operation, shortly after operation and during the last follow-up period were 1.9, 4.4 and 4.3 mm, respectively, showing there were significant differences between the preoperation and the immediate postoperative and last follow-up periods (P lt; 0.05). No degeneration of adjacent segment was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion Using ACIFC in bone graft fusion and internal fixation for degenerative cervical disease is convenientand fast, has wide range of indications with satisfying cl inical effect, and can achieve obvious therapeutic effect in restoring and maintaining cervical intervertebral height.
Objective To study the cl inical appl ication of Mobi-C prosthesis in treatment of anterior cervical discectomy and artificial disc replacement (ADR). Methods Between January 2009 and June 2009, 20 cases of degenerative cervical disease were treated with anterior discectomy and ADR by Mobi-C prosthesis, including 13 cases of cervical disc herniation and 7 cases of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, and 25 Mobi-C prosthesis were implanted. There were 8 males and 12 females, aged 29-54 years (mean, 45.2 years). The disease duration was from 4 days to 5 years (mean, 1.2 years). Affected segments of process included C3, 4 in 1 case, C4, 5 in 2 cases, C5, 6 in 7 cases, C6, 7 in 5 cases, C4, 5 and C5, 6 in 2 cases, and C5, 6 and C6, 7 in 3 cases. Radiographs were taken regularly, and cervical range of motion (ROM) on segments of disc replacements were measured. The functions of cervical spinal cord were evaluated by “40 score” system (COA) preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at follow-up. The qual ity of l ife was evaluated by neck disabil ity index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Results All incisions healed by first intention. No perioperative compl ication was found. All cases were followed up 16.5 months on average (range, 14-18 months). There was no significant difference in cervical ROM of operatied segment between preoperation and follow-up duration (t=0.808，P=0.440). No heterotopic ossification was found at follow-up. COA score at last follow-up (38.20 ± 1.14) was significantly higher than preoperative one (32.10 ± 2.96) , (t=9.278，P=0.000) , and the improvement rate at last follow-up was 77.2% ± 5.4%. VAS score at last follow-up (3.20 ± 1.23) had significant difference when compared with preoperative one (5.10 ± 1.29), (t=10.585，P=0.000). NDI score at last follow-up (29.40 ± 4.55) had significant difference when compared with preoperative one (39.20 ± 3.80), (t=16.039, P=0.000). Conclusion A satisfactory short-term curative effect can be obtained by using Mobi-C prosthesis in treatment of anterior cervical discectomy and ADR.